Vent and closure for regulating tanks and the like.



Y W. L TURNER VENT AND CLOSURE FOR REGULATING TANKS AND THE LIKE.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 6,1915 7 Patented Dec. 31, 1918.

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nrr n WILLIAM J. TURNER, OF PROVIDENCE,

RHODE ISLAND.

VENT AND CLOSURE FOR REGULATING TANKS AND THE LIKE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 31, 1918.

Application filed April 6, 1916. Serial No. 89,360.

=T0 all whom it may concern State of Rhode Island, have invented new and useful Improvements in Vents and Closures for Regulating Tanks and the like, of which the following is a specification.

This invention vents and closures for regulating tanks. More particularly it relates to tanks in which the level of water or other liquid varies, and in which there is a vent above the water level which must be closed when the water rises enough to be in danger of escaping It is here shown as it may be applied to a tank which is normally open to atmospheric pressure through a vent in the top; but which is liable to become filled with liquid under pressure and under circumstances in which it is important that the vent should be closed with certainty at a a predetermined level. Hitherto it has been proposed. to use floats for closing such a vent, but the present invention is intended to provide a more powerful and positive closure, one which is particularly adaptable for use in closing the escape from a regulating tank such, for example, as may be used for controlling the fire under the boiler in a steam heating system operating ordinarily under so called vapor or low pressure but susceptible of operation under higher pressure. Such a system is shown in my copending application for patent, Serial No. 89,358, in which case is alsoillustrated the use of a tank with vent closure like that herein set forth. The objects of the invention are accomplished by providing at the top of the tank a flexible diaphragm which may be set horizontally and arranged with a tube passing centrally through it with an air tight joint projecting a suitable distance below it and above it, stationary conical plug the precise position of which may be adjustable but which the upper end of the tube engages whenever the tube is lifted sufficiently, and to which it may be lifted'by upward fiexure of the diaphragm. Rising water in the tank, reaching the bottom of the tube, seals the-air contained in the tank below the diaphragm and above the level of the bottom of the tube. Water may continue to rise freely through the tube, but in the: tank outside -of the tube it can rise only by compressing the relates to improvements in and associated with a air sealed therein. This pressure is transmitted to the diaphragm, pressing it upward with a force which is proportionate to the area of the diaphragm. The diaphragm may yield until the upper end of the tube which it carries encounters the plug. The parts are designed and set so that this happens before the water that is simultaneously rising in the tube, has reached the top. Thereafter the top of the tube is closed; and no matter how high the pressure may rise within the tank the closure is maintained by aforce many times greater than the force which the Water in the tube, or the air con fined above it, can exercise upon the plug, because of the many times by which the area of the diaphragm exceeds the area of the tube, as well as because of the higher degree of pressure of the air sealed in the tank when the level of the bottom of the tank was reached as compared with that which Was subsequently sealed within the tube when the plug was seated against its upper end. Upon the relief of pressure forcing water upward within the tank, the diaphragm returns, both by gravity and by its own elasticity, to its normal position, thus lowering the tube and restoring atmospheric communication with the interior of the tank. As compared with float-operated closures, it will be seen that this action is positive and of unlimited power, whereas the power of a float is limited by the buoyancy of the float. The invention may be embodied in various forms and is not limited to the specific arrangement chosen for illustration. It is intended that the patent shall cover by suitable expression in the appended claims whatever features of patentable novelty exist in the invention disclosed.

In the accompanying drawings Figure 1, is a side elevation of apparatus embodying invention, in medial section;

Fig. 2 is a plan of the same in section on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1; and

Fig. 3 is a plan of the device of Fig. 1..

Referring to the drawings 10 indicates the shell of a tank which is elongated vertically and which as here represented is supported at one end of a lever 11 capable of swinging up and down through a limited arc in order to control the position of the dampers and drafts which in turn control the fire under a boiler. These various parts are not shown as they are not part of the invention here claimed, but are mentioned merely to explain the connection in which the invention may be utilized in one o f its forms of application. In'the upper part of the tank is a horizontal diaphragm 12 which closes the tank air tight except for a passage which extends vertically through it and except for the supply pipe 14 for water which is connected to the lower part of the tank. In the middle of the diaphragm 12 is. a sleeve 15 penetrating the diaphragm and having -a head 16 on one side of the diaphragm and a screw thread 17 on the other side of the diaphragm; a washer and nut 18 screwed upon it being adapted to clamp the diaphragm so firmly that nothing can escape around the sleeve. The sleeve 15 has a tu bular extension downward, 19, and one upward, 20, constituting a yent. The top end of the tube is countersunk conically as at 21 in order to make it fit a conical plug 22 which is supported rigidly above it, with its axis substantially coinciding with the axis of the tube on a bridge 28 in which it is adjustable by a screw thread and head 2% toward and from the end of the tube. In the operation of such a device, liquid flows into or out of the tank, owing to any cause, depending upon the nature of the apparatus in which the tank is used. In the particular case referred to liquid flows in when increase of pressure in the vapor in the boiler causes a rise of water in this outside.

connected leg which is open to the atmosphere. When the water has risen as far as the bottom of the tubular section 19, the air remaining between that level and the diaphragm 12 is separated from connection with the atmosphere. A further influx of water causes a compressionof this separated air and also drives some of thewater up through the tubular parts 20 and 19 which remain open to the atmosphere. However, the compression of air under the diaphragm presses the diaphragm upward, and as the diaphragm yields the tube moves upward until its upper end encounters and is closed by the plug 22. The distance of its movement before this happens may be controlled by varying the setting of the plug in its bridge 23. WVhen the end of the tube is seated against the plug it is pressed thereagainst by substantially the entire pressure that is acting on the diaphragm whichis of relatively large area as compared with the area of the tube. This differential maintains a firm closure at the point, either as against the escape of air contained in the tube or the escape of water. at any time easily accessible for examination or for repair. While a conical plug is illustrated it is obvious that another type of valve or seat might be substituted at pleasure. Furthermore the rise of the tube, which is executed wlth force corresponding to the intensity of pressureon the water and the The valve is area of diaphragm, can be utilized to operate any simple mechanism, such as a valve of difierent type, or an alarm, or extra damper, after the tube has begun to rise and before it has been positively stopped.

I claim as my invention:

1. In combination, a tank wherein the level of liquid may vary, said tank being closed to atmosphere except at a vent that is normally open, and having a flexible diaphragm forming part of the tank wall; a passage extending to said vent from a lower. part of the tank where said variation of level may 00-. cur; and closing means for the vent, adapted to be made effective by outward flexure of the diaphragm.

2. In combination, a tank wherein the level of liquid may vary, said tank being closed to atmosphere except at a vent thatv is normally open, and having a flexible diaphragm against which contents may press; a tube mounted on the diaphragm, hermetically, joined thereto exteriorly, internally provid: ing said vent, and extending theretorfrom a lower part of the tank where said variation oflevel may occur; and closingmeans for. the vent adapted to be made efi'ectiveby flexure of the diaphragm.

3. In combination, a tank wherein the level of liquid may var said tank being-closed to atmosphere except at a vent that is normally open, and having a flexible diaphragm against which contents may press; a tube extending to said vent from a lower part of the tank where said variation of level may occur; and closing means for the vent, adapt.- ed to be made effective by outward fiex ure of the diaphragm, comprising a plug valve ad j acent to the outer end of the tube and adapted close it.

4. In combination, a tank wherein thelevel, of liquid may vary, said tank being closed. to atmosphere except ata vent that is nor-, mally open, and having a flexible diaphragm against which contents may press; a tube extending to said vent from a lower part ofthe tank where said variation of level may occur; and closing means-for the vent, adapted to be made efl'ective by out-y ward fiexure of the diaphragm, comprising a plug stationarily mounted at the end of the tube, against which t e tube abuts when moved out-ward 5. In combination, a tankwhereinthe level of liquid may vary, saidtank being closed to atmosphere except for a vent that is normally open,.and having a flexible diaphragm against which contents may press; a tubular core penetrating the diaphragm and having flanges adapted to'be clamped together; upon the diaphragm, whereby said vent is made;-

a tubular extension of said core downward to a part of the tank where the said variation of level may occur, and means outside of the tank forclosing the said vent, adapted;

to be made efiective by outward flexure of the diaphragm.

6. In combination, a tank adapted in its lower part for connection to a source 0 liquid supply, and at its top closed to atmosphere except at a vent provided therein; having a flexible diaphragm as a part of its said upper closure, and a tube from said vent to a level below the diaphragm, whereby air is sealed in the upper part when liquid rises above the bottom of the tube; and a conical plug closure for the vent, one for the two parts of the vent closure being connected with the diaphragm so that the two parts of the closure are brought together by fiexure of the diaphragm resulting from pressure of said sealed air upon it occasioned by further rise of liquid.

7 In combination a tank wherein the level Copies of this patent may be obtained for of liquid may vary, closed to atmosphere except for a vent which is normally open, and having a passage from said vent to a lower part of the tank where the opening of the tank to the vent is, and having a flexible diaphragm in the wall of the tank above said opening, whereby air is sealed in the part containing the diaphragm when liquid rises above said opening; and mechanism associated with the diaphragm exteriorly and adapted to be actuated by movement thereof occasioned by rise and fall of said liquid in the tank.

Signed by me at Boston, Massachusetts, this twenty-eighth day of March, 1916.

WILLIAM J. TURNER. Witnesses:

EVERETT E. KENT, JOSEPH T. BRENNAN.

five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. 0. 

